In cricket, what is a "pink ball" primarily used for?
VerifiedAnswer: Day-night Test matches.
Explanation:
The pink ball is a revolutionary innovation in cricket that was specifically designed to make day-night Test matches possible. Unlike the traditional red ball used in regular Test cricket, the pink ball has unique properties that allow it to remain visible under both natural daylight and artificial floodlights.
The main challenge with traditional red balls was their poor visibility under artificial lights during evening hours. When cricket authorities wanted to introduce day-night Test matches to attract larger audiences and make the longer format more television-friendly, they needed a ball that would maintain its visibility throughout the match, regardless of lighting conditions.
The pink color was chosen after extensive testing because it provides the best contrast against both the green pitch and the dark sky during twilight hours. The ball retains its bright pink color for a longer period compared to how a red ball fades, making it easier for players to track and spectators to follow the action on television.
Day-night Test matches typically start in the afternoon and continue into the evening hours under floodlights. This timing allows working people to attend matches after their office hours, significantly boosting attendance figures. The concept has been particularly successful in countries like Australia, where several day-night Tests have drawn large crowds.
The first official day-night Test match using a pink ball was played between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval in November 2015. Since then, many cricket-playing nations have embraced this format. India played its first day-night Test against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in 2019, which was a huge success with packed crowds.
While the pink ball behaves similarly to the red ball in most aspects, players have noted some differences in how it swings and seams, particularly during the twilight period. Fast bowlers often find favorable conditions during the evening session when the pink ball tends to move more in the air and off the pitch, adding an extra tactical dimension to the game.
